Sigma Chi - University of Nebraska

Page 4 Welcome New Initiates! FALL 2013 PLEDGE CLASS Initiated October 2013 Reagan Bergan '17* Lincoln, Neb. (Uncle David Nosal '90) Colin Boyle '16* Plattsmouth, Neb. (Brother Brenden Boyle '10) Chris Burma '16 Columbus, Neb. Gabe Casper '17 Lincoln, Neb. Andrew Chase '17 Buffalo Grove, Ill. Grant Davidson '17 Omaha, Neb. Mitch Johnson '17 Littleton, Colo. David Kujawa '17 Palatine, Ill. Joe Lepkowski '17 Papillion, Neb. Connor Logsdon '17 Lincoln, Neb. Dylan Malher '16 Allen, Neb. JP Patten '17 Lincoln, Neb. Max Smith '17 Buffalo Grove, Ill. Allen Smith '16 San Bernardino, Calif. Jantz Sporer '16 Oakley, Kan. Ky Veney '17 Lincoln, Neb. Ory Wickizer '17 Lincoln, Neb. Eric Wilhelm '16 Lincoln, Neb. Sam Williams '16 Lincoln, Neb. WINTER 2013-14 PLEDGE CLASS Initiated February 2014 Carter Svec '17 Lincoln, Neb. Hung Vo '17 Lincoln, Neb. SPRING 2014 PLEDGE CLASS Initiated April 2014 Maxfield Berger '16 Lincoln, Neb. Justin DeFields '17 Bloomington, Ill. Austin Walters '16 Palm Springs, Calif. Curtis Yount '17 Bloomington, Ill. * Legacy, relative in parentheses T he strength of our fraternity depends on our ability to bring in the right amount of a limited number of highly screened and qualified members. This "yin and yang" of quantity and quality takes place in an environment that is increasingly competitive and sophisticated. Despite our recent restrictions on rush, Alpha Epsilon has done a masterful job of continuing to build our rolls with good young men who aspire to be leaders and buy into the values that we represent. As this Husker Sig goes to press, we have built up our membership to 46 actives and three pledges, during a time when we were under suspension and, therefore, unable to pledge freshmen. Our emphasis on sophomore and junior recruiting has paid big dividends, but now that we are unrestricted in our ability to rush within the IFC system again—and can pledge freshmen—it is critical that we turn up the effort on bringing in high-quality younger members once again. Thien Chau '16 and Walker Patten '15 served Alpha Epsilon so creatively and ably as our rush chairmen during a difficult suspension. The Chapter has now elected Ky Veney '17 and Josh Johnson '16 as our rush chairmen. They are highly motivated, with stretch goals and big plans to make this summer's rush a great success for Alpha Epsilon. Highlights will be weekly barbecues at the Chapter House, a showcase rush event at the Lincoln Country Club, and a lot of one-on-one meetings with prospects and parents as they traverse the state in search of the best and the brightest candidates for membership. ALPHA EPSILON GEARS UP FOR MAJOR 2014 RUSH EFFORT Graduate Live-in Position YieLds BiG dividends A s our undergraduates travel down a new and unfamiliar path, it stands to reason that having someone else alongside who has been there can be of great value. Such is the experience Alpha Epsilon has had with our graduate student live-in. The chapter advisor committee took the initiative to identify and employ an exceptional recent UNL graduate to live with and help mentor our undergraduates. The ideal candidate would have to possess strong and specific fraternity experience to serve as a counselor, advisor, and mentor to Sig undergraduates. Our first hire in this area is Jack Ehrke, who graduated in 2009 from UNL and was a member of the FarmHouse Fraternity, long recognized for their scholarship on campus. Jack was our first choice from a competitive interviewing process and is just completing a very successful one year term. His duties included meeting with each undergraduate on a one-on-one basis during the semester to set academic, personal and service goals, allocate at least six hours each week in an open door setting to counsel undergraduates on pressing issues, and help create a set of standards and programs that would ensure undergraduates understood and complied with the University Code of Conduct. Jack was also responsible for bringing in high-profile community leaders to speak with our undergraduates twice each month over a formal dinner at 1510 Vine Street. Jack has gone way above the call of duty. He leaves his own personal legacy by creating and implementing our new voluntary Legacy Project, wherein each undergraduate officer is charged with developing and executing a specific project that will leave the Fraternity a better place for years to come. Officers have enthusiastically embraced the challenge this project presents and we are already seeing some terrific ideas emerge. Jack's impact on the undergraduates is evident as one walks the halls of Sigma Chi. He has developed both the respect and friendship of undergraduates and alumni alike in serving as the key liaison between both groups. All in all, Jack has materially contributed to the rebooting of Alpha Epsilon and convinced alumni and undergraduates of the power and potential of this position. Now, with his marriage pending and his term ending, Jack prepares to start this new chapter in his life with the sure knowledge that he is leaving the Fraternity in a much better place than he found it. We are indebted to this great guy and cherish our time with him. His successor, Isaac Moore also hails from FarmHouse. He has big shoes to fill to say the least. Isaac will no doubt carry on many of the great services authored by Jack, including resume development, class selection, and problem solving to name a few. Our new live-in graduate hails from Stromsberg, Nebraska, and graduated with honors from UNL with a degree Former graduate live-in Jack Ehrke. (Continued on page 6)

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